Cook up this crispy buffalo cauliflower for quick snack anytime. With a crispy coating, oven-baked cauliflower bites are delicious tossed in buffalo sauce.
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Holly’s Recipe Highlights
- Flavor: Spicy, tangy, and perfectly crispy with that classic buffalo kick.
- Skill level: Super easy—just toss, bake, and enjoy!
- Time-Saving Tip: Use a big bag of pre-cut fresh cauliflower to make prep even quicker.
- Serving suggestions: Serve with blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping, and don’t forget the celery and carrot sticks!
Ingredient Tips for Buffalo Cauliflower
- Cauliflower: Fresh is best, but frozen cauliflower can be used as long as it’s thawed and patted dry. Cut cauliflower into bite-sized pieces for the best results.
- Batter: This simple batter starts with milk, flour, seasonings, and a sprinkle of breadcrumbs for crunch.
- Buffalo Sauce: Buffalo sauce and hot sauce are different. Buffalo wing sauce is generally 2 parts hot sauce to 1 part melted butter. Use a bottle of store-bought Buffalo sauce (like Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Sauce) or make your own and adjust the heat any way you like!
Holly’s Tips for the Best Buffalo Cauliflower
- For crispy bites, dry cauliflower well. Wash a day ahead, wrap in a kitchen towel, and refrigerate to absorb moisture.
- Let the batter drip from the florets, you just want enough to get into all the nooks and crannies.
- Don’t oversoak the florets with Buffalo sauce or they will get soggy.
- Line the baking pan with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Leftover baked cauliflower can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. Reheat under the broiler or in the air fryer.
Did you make this Buffalo Cauliflower? Leave a rating and a comment below!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower washed and dried
- 1 cup milk any type
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- black pepper to taste
- ⅔ cup Panko bread crumbs
- ⅔ cup buffalo sauce see note below
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Cut cauliflower into bite-sized pieces and discard the core.
- Combine milk, flour, oil, garlic powder, and pepper in a large bowl. Place batter and cauliflower in a large zippered bag and gently toss until cauliflower is coated.
- Pour cauliflower into a large strainer, letting any excess batter drip off. You want just a light coating of batter. Sprinkle with Panko breadcrumbs and gently toss.
- Place on a foil-lined pan and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and gently toss with buffalo sauce. Cauliflower should be coated but not soaked.
- Place cauliflower back on the pan and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until cauliflower is tender-crisp.
- Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Notes
- Note: Purchase store-bought buffalo sauce or mix ⅓ cup melted butter with ⅔ cup hot sauce (such as Frank’s Red Hot). Whisk until combined.
- Ensure the cauliflower is very dry after washing. You can use a salad spinner or shake it dry in a clean towel. Try to wash it the day before if possible.
- Toss the cauliflower in the wet batter and let most of the excess drip off, leaving just a light coating.
- Don’t add too much Buffalo sauce to the cauliflower, just toss until lightly coated.
- If some of your friends/family don’t like spice, leave a few florets aside when adding buffalo sauce and season them with salt and black pepper instead. Serve them with your favorite dips.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Appetizer, Party Food, Side Dish, Snack
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You sure can! Be sure the frozen cauliflower is thawed, drained, and dabbed dry or the batter will not crisp. Frozen cauliflower will be softer than fresh.
Yes. Place a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fryer at 350°F for 5 minutes and 400°F for an additional 5-7 minutes.
Mine didn’t come out looking as good as the picture, that said: I also LOVE this and have made it a few times in a month!! Leftovers are so easy to just pop in the toaster oven on 350° for about 10-15 minutes and they’re just like new. Highly recommend! I also add extra buffalo wing sauce anyway (after they’ve finished in oven with sauce on them)…and of course Ranch dressing with it!!! Love, love, love this!! And so many other recipes on here!